Highs and Lows

Luba and her boys from the camp.

It's interesting that Psalm 22, which starts out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning..." and goes on with David crying out for help, is followed by Psalm 23, which starts out, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures..." and goes on to extol the hope and peace that we can have in the Lord.

That intertwining of heartache and joy, peace and despair, are a part of being in ministry with kids who live on the edge of so many things. We cannot be like social workers who are taught not to become personally involved in the lives of their clients, as Christ calls us to do otherwise.

This past week, I got a call from Sergei who was heartbroken as both Igor and Pasha  left the aftercare home last weekend. Igor took some things and just left-which is his pattern in life. Pasha, for some unknown reason, decided to leave and wouldn't say why. Sergei sees Pasha as a son and this is a tough thing. I've been through that myself, too many times, and it hurts. It helps us to remember that people have to make their own choices and that the Lord gives each of us free will to do so, but it's never easy. Please pray that Igor will be safe and pray that Pasha will come back. And pray for Sergei too.

Shkasia and his new buddy.

This past week, we were sitting here at the house, when Bogdan looked at me and said, "I'm so happy. You know why? This is a dream come true for Anya and me." We were looking at photos and talking with the guys and girls who have lived here at the Safe Haven house, just after they returned from a camp that they put together and ran for kids from broken, destitute homes. Andrew and Jenny Kelly do outreach to those kids and this was a special time for them to get away from the hell of home.

All of the kids who lead the camp grew up in the orphanage and became believers through camps or through living here. Now, they are helping the kids they once were and they were so excited about it. I kidded with Bogdan that we can now retire since the next generation is keeping things going.

Thank you Lord for that and for keeping us going when we don't have the strength. That is a great gift.